Francisco Andres Alvarez, a man sentenced to prison for a 2018 fatal DUI crash that killed two 19-year-olds, was charged with a new DUI case this year, while still remaining out of custody due to an ongoing appeals process.
It seems time hasn't tempered the reckless behavior Alvarez exhibited in the 2018 accident, in which he fatally struck, Brandon Contreras, and Ana Lira, after running a red light in Escondido. The incident, as reported by Times of San Diego, occurred at 11:30 pm at the intersection of Ash Street and El Norte Parkway, with Alvarez's system containing alcohol, marijuana, and cocaine. It left an underage boy seriously injured as well.
Last year, Alvarez was sentenced to nearly eight years in state prison after pleading guilty to charges of gross vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated and DUI causing injury. However, a judge ruled that he could stay out-of-custody until an appeals process was completed before serving his term. The appeal remains ongoing, as noted by the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office.
Now, almost five years since the fateful tragedy, Alvarez was booked into county jail on August 18th, 2023, on two misdemeanor DUI counts after being accused of driving under the influence of alcohol on July 6. He now faces further scrutiny and legal action, as detailed in the The Coast News report, with counts alleging driving with prior gross vehicular manslaughter convictions. He pleaded not guilty to the charges in Vista Superior Court on August 18th.
Alvarez was held on a $175,000 bail as of late Thursday, August 18th afternoon, and, if bailed out, will have to wear an alcohol-monitoring device. A defense attorney for Alvarez mentioned to NBC San Diego last year that his client "feels terrible for the families and he’s actually taken this time that he’s been out on bail to talk to friends and relatives and co-workers about the dangers of driving under the influence," as seen in the Times of San Diego article.
Alvarez has an opportunity to exercise his right to appeal.
